Geneva Motor Show sees eclectic string of debuts

The 2015 edition of the Geneva auto show is gearing up for a string of key debuts from global automakers spanning across the model lines – from the exotic supercars to German premium minivans to key new models for Skoda or Renault.

The Geneva show is one Europe’s most important, even though it only spans roughly the surface of just one exposition hall in Paris or Frankfurt. This year the show will kick in on March 5 for the general public after the traditional two day-press preview on March 3 and 4. Aston Martin is coming with the Vulcan race-track supercar, while Audi is showcasing its second generation R8 sports car. Bentley is also joining the sports car craze with the concept of a two-seat sports car to rival Ferrari’s California T and the Aston Vantage line. Ferrari is not ready for a shadowy performance, taking the spotlights with the new 488 GTB – the 660 hp successor of the acclaimed 458 Italia. UK supercar specialist McLaren is also pleasing the crowd with two models: the P1 GTR and the 675LT. Last, but not least – as performance is concerned – Renault will officially debut the latest and greatest Focus RS.

The traditional sedan and minivan sectors are well represented this year as well – with the latter featuring BMW’s second production front-wheel-drive car in recent times – the seven-seat 2 Series Grand Tourer. Audi also offers a sleek Prologue Avant concept, hinting at a possible flagship station wagon. Lexus has the LF-SA concept on show – reports saying it would introduce a future very small rival to the Mini Cooper. Skoda has a new generation for the Superb range-topping model, VW comes in with the new Touran compact minivan and Golf GTD Variant. The segment is topped by Mercedes-Maybach’s Maybach Pullman that starts at 500,000 euros.

Naturally, the fastest growing segment – SUVs and crossovers – has the largest amount of entries. Honda enters the booming subcompact segment with the HR-V; Hyundai has brought the new generation of the ix35 – renamed as the Tucson; Infiniti is showing the near production guise of the upcoming QX30 compact crossover; Renault is joining the party with the entirely new Kadjar compact model and even Rolls-Royce has already confirmed the numerous reports it would move to introduce a range-topping SUV offering.